Fishing in Cullman County, Alabama
County seat: Cullman. Population 87,866.
- 4lake pages
- 2listed ramps
- 4river and creek pages
Pick for black crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Sipsey Fork: Quinn Rossi, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sizing up Cullman County for a rod and reel
87,866 Alabamians lived in Cullman County at the 2020 Census, with Cullman as the seat. ADCNR bank-access sites here carry the ADCNR Fisheries District III label.
Of 4 lakes with a page here, Lewis Smith Lake covers the most ground. Trailer boats have 2 listed ramps here on ADCNR lists. ADCNR's bank layer shows 10 bank or pier sites here and 3 piers among them.
Census 2020 population; NHD lake outlines with the ADCNR reservoir program; ADCNR WFF boat ramp list, coastal boating access and fish-from-the-bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Plotting Cullman County ramps, banks and lakes
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Cullman County lakes ranked by outline acreage
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Smith Lake | 21,200 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 3 | striped bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Catoma | 527 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| George Lake | 159 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Sportsman Lake | 30 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 |
USGS NHD lake outlines (acreage of the mapped outline unless ADCNR prints one), ADCNR reservoir pages and the ADCNR WFF boat ramp list; read November 1, 2026. ADCNR publishes no lake depths.
For the black crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Which species show up near Cullman County
Within 50 miles of Cullman, more pages list black crappie than any other fish.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Streams that wind through Cullman County
- Sipsey Forktrout tailwater, ADCNR river page, 1 ADCNR-listed ramp, 2 bank or pier sites, 72 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Mulberry ForkADCNR river page, 2 ADCNR-listed ramps, 1 bank or pier site, 116 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Flint CreekADCNR river page, 1 bank or pier site, 41 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Crooked Creek37 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Cullman County creeks listed here only (4)
- Broglen River12 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Duck River19 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Hurricane Creek (Cullman County)3 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Rock Creek41 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
USGS readings across Cullman County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Fork Near Arkadelphia, Al. | 49 cfs, 0.58 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:15 pm |
| Duck River Above Hwy 278 Near Berlin, Al | 20 cfs, 1.70 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines and lengths, ADCNR river pages, ADCNR ramp lists and USGS gauges; read November 1, 2026.
Boat ramps of Cullman County
- Lion's Park (Lick Creek) on Lewis Smith LakeLewis Smith Lake, 1 lane, 21 trailer spaces
- Smith Lake Park on Lewis Smith LakeLewis Smith Lake, 6 lanes, 3 docks, 166 trailer spaces
Other public ramps exist beyond the ADCNR lists.
ADCNR shoreline spots across Cullman County
- Duck River Dam Boat Launchbank access, City of Cullman
- Duck River Fishing Pierfishing pier, City of Cullman
- Duck River West Trail and Boat Rampbank access, City of Cullman
- Lake Catoma Boat Rampbank access, City of Cullman
- Lake George Boat Rampbank access, City of Cullman
- Lower Mulberry Fork Kayak Put-Inbank access, Garden City
- Sipsey Fork Intake Pump Stationbank access, Alabama Power Company
- Smith Lake Park on Lewis Smith Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Lake Catoma bank accessbank access, City of Cullman
- Sportsman Lake fishing pierfishing pier, City of Cullman
ADCNR WFF boat ramp list (public.dcnr.alabama.gov), ADCNR coastal boating access, fish-from-the-bank map and public access sites layer; read November 1, 2026.
Alabama limits that apply in Cullman County
Every Cullman County water without its own digest row uses the statewide limits. Freshwater privileges for a year cost an Alabamian $17.45; anglers from elsewhere pay $68.20.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
Special limits printed for Cullman County water (3)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Smith Reservoir | Largemouth bass, Alabama bass, Spotted bass | It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass, Alabama bass or spotted bass between 13 inches and 15 inches in total length. |
| Lewis Smith Reservoir | Saltwater striped bass | It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit. It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. Culling is defined as removing and releasing a saltwater |
| Mulberry Fork and Sipsey Fork and their tributaries (Blount, Cullman, Lawrence, Walker and Winston counties) | Walleye | Illegal to take or attempt to take walleye by any method; any walleye taken must be released immediately with least possible harm. |
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026. Size and creel exceptions as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition), limits page, read November 1, 2026.
Big-fish marks from around Cullman County
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted bass | 8 lbs., 15 oz. | Lewis Smith Lake | 3/18/78 |
| Striped Hybrid bass | 25 lbs., 15 oz. | Sipsey Fork | 9/13/96 |
Alabama state record lists kept by ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater) (freshwater, saltwater), read November 1, 2026.
Tournament dates in Cullman County
0 of 1 organizer events linked to Cullman County are still to come.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 26, 2025 | Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake 2025 | Lewis Smith Lake | B.A.S.S. |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ADCNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Cullman County shops and fishing guides
Bait counters in Cullman County
- Shop Riverside Flybait and tackle shop, Jasper
- W W Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cullman
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Cullmansporting goods store, Cullman
- Dick's Sporting Goods Cullmansporting goods store, Cullman
- Mallard Point Marinamarina, Cullman
- Speegle's Marina & Campgroundmarina, Crane Hill
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
In the Cullman County neighbourhood
Cullman County town guides
- Cullmanpop. 18,213
- Hancevillepop. 3,217
- Good Hopepop. 2,483
Neighbouring county guides for Cullman County
- Blount County20 miles southeast
- Morgan County22 miles north
- Winston County28 miles west
- Marshall County34 miles east
Line and reels from Piscifun before a run to Cullman County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the Cullman County fish apart, by photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions on the water inside Cullman County
Can I trailer a bass boat into water in Cullman County?
Count 2 listed ramps, 2 of them WFF.
Which lake tops the acreage list in Cullman County?
Lewis Smith Lake, 21,200 acres by ADCNR.
What fish do Cullman County waters hold?
Black crappie lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then largemouth bass, bluegill and spotted bass.
Where can Cullman County anglers buy bait?
Try Shop Riverside Fly; there are 6 in all.
Do guide services list a Cullman County business address?
No charter or guide listing names it.
Which Alabama town houses Cullman County government?
County government sits in Cullman.
What will a visitor pay to fish in Cullman County?
Freshwater privileges for a year cost an Alabamian $17.45; anglers from elsewhere pay $68.20.
What county lies closest to Cullman County?
Closest by centre point: Blount County, Morgan County and Winston County.
How many organizer events put boats on Cullman County water?
1 event on file from organizer pages, none ahead yet.
Which digest exception rows reach Cullman County?
The 2026-27 digest prints 3 water exceptions reaching this county, starting with Lewis Smith Reservoir; the table above shows each.
Which ADCNR record lines name Cullman County water?
Spotted bass, 8 lbs., 15 oz., from Lewis Smith Reservoir (3/18/78).
Spend a weekend fishing Cullman County
Lake pages list ADCNR ramps, species and limits.